He sat at the kitchen table reading some papers from work while he tried to stifle a yawn behind his mug of coffee. He was exhausted and it was affecting him in more ways than simply being tired. It was time that they talked.
Sabrina quickly checked that their son was still fast asleep in the breakfast room before she went back to her husband and made room for herself on his lap.
He smiled and placed his paper and coffee down on the table. “Mmm,” he nuzzled into her neck, which caused goose bumps to break out over her skin with the sensual assault, “you taste good.” He licked and nibbled his way down her neck.
Sabrina spread her fingers through his hair and pushed his head back so she could look into his eyes. Her hands cupped his face and pulled him close to meet her lips.
Since the world had righted itself between them, Lucien had gradually relaxed around Sabrina with his scars. She knew it hadn’t been easy for him, but with her care and love, she’d shown him that she loved everything about him, including the damage to his skin.
Her forehead rested against her husband’s as their gazes met and held. Sabrina couldn’t hold her concern inside any longer so she asked, “Will you talk to me? I know you sit up watching Alexander and I sleeping. Like you’re protecting us or making sure we don’t disappear on you. But I need to know what’s going on, because I’m worried about you.”
She knew that her husband could see the worry on her face as well as hear it in her voice. Lucien should have known that she’d be on to him. She didn’t miss a damn thing.
“I’m fine.” He brushed the hair back from her face. “I’ll always be fine as long as I have you.”
His words told her all she needed to know.
She turned and straddled him, her arms wrapped around his neck. She whispered, “I love you. You have my heart, Lucien. If I no longer had you in my life, I’d be so broken that no one would ever be able to put me back together. Are you hearing me?” Tears brimmed in her eyes before they slowly fell down her cheeks.
Lucien held her against him tightly. “I’m hearing,” he started but had to stop to catch his breath. “Since Alexander was born, I’ve struggled to sleep,” he admitted. “You both are my world, and I’m afraid I’m going to wake up one morning and realize it was all just a dream.”
She sat up, and cupped his face in her hands. “It isn’t a dream, and we’re here with you forever. Please don’t suffer alone. We talk about other things, please talk about how you’re feeling with me. I know you’re a guy and macho and all that,” she smiled, “but I’m your wife. You can tell me anything. It will hurt if you keep things from me.”
“I’m sorry. I figured it would pass.”
“And it hasn’t, right?”
Lucien shook his head. “No.”
“Do you think it all stems from what happened to you?”
“It’s all connected.” He stroked along her cheek, and rubbed her lips with his thumb. “I love you.” He kissed her quickly and stood with her still in his arms. “And unless you untangle your legs from around my waist, I’m going to get busy on the kitchen table.”
She knew he tried to lighten the mood, and she let him. They’d talked and although she still worried about him, she was glad that she knew what the problem was. Maybe he suffered with anxiety or something similar. She’d keep an eye on him, which she knew that he knew she’d be doing. Her husband’s life had been turned upside down when they met and more so when she found out that she was pregnant. Perhaps he just needed her to show him how she felt.
He groaned. “Oh, no. We’re not going to have sex on the kitchen table with our son over there.”
Sabrina wiggled against him. He was certainly up for it. “You sure about that?”
“Hmm, for now.” He untangled himself, pulled her into his arms for a kiss and then went to retrieve their squirming son who’d woken up.
The sun was low as he walked along the sidewalk, his beautiful wife’s hand clasped in his. Their son had been left at home, under the watchful eye of his Uncle Dante, Lucien’s cousin. Lucien felt better after his talk with Sabrina and was surprised she hadn’t told him to stop being an idiot.
He should have known better. She’d never tell him that, and she took his worry seriously. He’d spent many years after the fire like he was now, and even though he didn’t want to admit it, he knew that the anxiety was back. He could survive anything with Sabrina by his side so he had no qualms about talking to her about it, anymore, like he should have done from the beginning, just not while they were shopping for gifts.
“We need to go in here,” Sabrina said as they passed a store.
He only had chance for a quick glance at the sign before he’d been dragged inside.